Disk player

ABSTRACT

A restriction plate ( 21 ) is provided on a lower surface of a near side of an upper plate of a chassis base ( 101 ). Both disk (D 1 ) and disk (D 2 ), while keeping in contact with a contact guide portion P 1  of the restriction plate ( 21 ), are inserted. A stopper portion (P 2 ) is formed at a farther side position than the contact guide portion (P 1 ). A peripheral surface of a transfer roller ( 5 ) is placed in a moving direction of the disks (D 1 ), (D 2 ) proceeding while contacting upper surfaces of disk guides ( 2 R), ( 2 L) of a disk loading slit ( 20 ), and the contact guide portion (P 1 ). Further, the stopper portion (P 2 ) exists at a position corresponding to a direction of a tangent line which passes through the contact guide portion (P 1 ), out of the tangent lines of the aforementioned peripheral surface, at positions other than the moving direction of the disks (D 1 ), (D 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disk player for reproducing a disk(recording medium) such as a CD or a DVD, and others.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, portable-type disk players and vehicle-mounted type diskplayers have been proposed. In recent years, there have been proposeddisk players capable of reproducing both an 8-cm disk and a 12-cm disk(see JP-A 2001-143352). Further, there have been proposed disk playerscapable of reproducing a DVD, as well as a CD.

In such the disk players, there is a need for a mechanism to preventforeign substances such as a telephone card, and others, from beinginserted into a player main body.

Further, in such the disk players, during ejecting, an operation forraising a damper for clamping the disk is performed, and in a case thatthe damper is positioned by abutting a tip-end side (a portion raisedmost highly) of the damper against a chassis upper plate, the clamper,if a force of the abutment is large, may be caused to be bent.

Further, in such the disk players, it is desired that a transition to anejecting state is made after an optical pickup can be surely placed atan information recording area on an innermost area of the disk. Further,specifically, in reproducing the DVD, it is required that the opticalpickup be made to be moved accurately in parallel with a disk surface.

Further, in such the disk players, the optical pickup, while fixed inother states, is movable when a disk is reproduced. Incidentally, adriving power of a motor is switched between for moving the opticalpickup and for clamping the disk. It is required that a timing ofswitching the driving power from for clamping the disk to for moving theoptical pickup occur concurrently with a timing of releasing a statethat the optical pickup is fixed and it is desired to be formed of asimple mechanism.

Further, in such the disk players, in consideration of use at locationswhere impacts or vibrations can occur, particularly in cases of thevehicle-mounted type disk players, it is required to bring these diskplayers into an elastically-supported state in order to prevent impacts,etc., from being transferred to the reproducing portion. Further, when adisk is being transferred into the disk player, it is required toprevent the disk from abutting against a transfer roller due to theimpacts, etc. The mechanism is required to include a small number ofcomponents and be simple, in order to make the disk player compact andsave a cost.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the aforementioned problems, a disk playeraccording to the present invention comprises a contact guide portionwhich comes into contact with a disk inserted from a disk loading port,a stopper portion which is placed on a farther side than the contactguide portion and stops the disk transferred thereto at a predeterminedposition, a transfer roller that is provided between the contact guideportion and the stopper portion and transfers the disk, a transfermechanism for transmitting a driving power of a motor to the transferroller, a damper for clamping the disk transferred thereto, a clampmechanism for causing the damper to lift or descend, an optical pickupbase which is guided in a linear manner in a radial direction of thedisk clamped by the clamper, and a pickup moving mechanism for movingthe pickup base in the radial direction of the disk. A peripheralsurface of the transfer roller is placed in a moving direction of thedisk proceeding while keeping in contact with the disk loading port andthe contact guide portion, and the stopper portion exists at a positioncorresponding to a direction of a tangent line on the peripheral surfacewhich passes through the contact guide portion, out of the tangent linesof said peripheral surface, at positions other than the moving directionof the disk (hereinafter, referred to as a first configuration in thissection).

With the aforementioned configuration, the disk proceeds while keepingin contact with the contact guide portion and the disk loading port and,in the middle of an insertion, the disk contacts the peripheral surfaceof the transfer roller, and is transferred by the transfer roller. At atime of this transfer, the roller moves to some degree by being pushedby the disk. In addition, since the stopper portion does not exist inthe moving direction of the disk, the transfer of the disk will not beobstructed. On the other hand, even if an attempt is made to insert atelephone card into the disk loading port out of mischief, the insertionof this card is prevented. Cards are formed to be relatively thin andthus are soft and easily bent compared with the disk. Therefore, theinserted card is not capable of moving the transfer roller. Since thetransfer roller is not moved, the card will proceed toward the stopperportion and contacts the stopper portion, which will stop the transfer.

In the first configuration, preferably, the disk player is configured tobe adaptable to both a first disk having a large diameter and a seconddisk having a small diameter, and the disk loading port includes disktransfer receiving portions on both sides, the second disk is configuredin such a manner as to lose contact with the disk transfer receivingportions at an earlier stage of insertion than the first disk, and atransfer stopper for the second disk is provided at a position whichcomes into contact with only the second disk. According thereto, from atime that the second disk loses contact with the disk transfer receivingportions, the moving direction changes, and this enables to make adifference between the moving directions of the first disk and thesecond disk.

In the first configuration, preferably, the disk player is adaptable toboth a first disk having a large diameter and a second disk having asmall diameter, and comprises a moving member having a first contactportion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having a largerdiameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller and a second contactportion which contacts the tip end of the first disk having a smalldiameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller, and is configuredthat a movement of the moving member caused by the contact between thedisks and the contact portions causes a switching of a supplyingdestination of the driving power of the motor from the transfermechanism to the clamp mechanism.

In the first configuration, preferably, the disk player is configuredsuch that a reproducing portion is formed by being provided with theclamper, the clamp mechanism, the transfer mechanism, the optical pickupbase, the pickup moving mechanism, and a roller supporting mechanism formovably supporting the transfer roller in the same cabinet, and isconfigured to be adaptable to both a first disk having a large diameterand a second disk having a small diameter, comprises a lock mechanismfor fixedly or elastically supporting the reproducing portion, a sliderwhich engages with the lock mechanism and the roller supportingmechanism, and a moving member including a first contact portion whichcontacts a tip end of the first disk having a larger diametertransferred thereto by the transfer roller and a second contact portionwhich contacts the tip end of the first disk having a small diametertransferred thereto by the transfer roller, and configured such that amovement of the moving member caused as a result of the disk contactingthe contact portion causes the slider to move, and this movement of theslider causes the roller supporting mechanism to move, thereby pullingthe transfer roller away from the disk, and causes the lock mechanism tomove, thereby changing the reproducing portion from a fixed state to anelastically-supported state.

In the first configuration, preferably, the disk player comprises aswitching mechanism for switching the supplying destination of thedriving power of the motor either to the clamp mechanism or to thepickup moving mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured in such amanner as to restrict a movement of the pickup moving mechanism whenapplying the driving power of the motor to the clamp mechanism, andallow the movement of the pickup moving mechanism when applying thedriving power of the motor to the pickup moving mechanism.

In the first configuration, preferably, the damper is provided in such amanner as to be lifted or descended by the clamp mechanism with arear-end portion thereof serving as a supporting point, and the rear-endportion is configured in such a manner as to engage with engaging holeswhich allow upward and downward movements of the rear-end portion.According thereto, when the damper is further pushed upwardly afterbeing lifted and abuts against an upper plate of a chassis, the rear-endportion can move (run off) upwardly in the engaging holes, which canprevent bending of the clamper.

In the first configuration, preferably, the disk player comprises acoupling mechanism for coupling the pickup base and the pickup movingmechanism. The coupling mechanism is configured in such a manner as toallow a movement of the pickup moving mechanism even after the pickupbase is guided to a guide end near a center of the disk, and in such amanner that this movement causes a switching of the supplyingdestination of the driving power of the motor from the pickup movingmechanism to the clamp mechanism.

In the first configuration, preferably, there is provided an adjustingmechanism for adjusting an attitude of the optical pickup base and thecoupling mechanism is configured in such a manner as to allow a changeof the attitude of the optical pickup base without changing the attitudeof the pickup moving mechanism.

In the first configuration, preferably, the disk player is configured insuch a manner as to fix the pickup moving mechanism when the supplyingdestination of the driving power of the motor is switched from thepickup moving mechanism to the clamp mechanism.

Further, a disk player according to the present invention comprises acontact guide portion which comes into contact with a disk inserted froma disk loading port, a stopper portion which is placed on a farther sidethan the contact guide portion and stops the disk transferred thereto ata predetermined position, a transfer roller that is provided between thecontact guide portion and the stopper portion and transfers a disk, aroller supporting mechanism for movably supporting the transfer roller,a transfer mechanism for transmitting a driving power of a motor to thetransfer roller, a damper for clamping the disk transferred thereto, aclamp mechanism for causing the damper to lift or descend, an opticalpickup base which is guided in a linear manner in a radial direction ofthe disk clamped by the clamper, a pickup moving mechanism for movingthe pickup base in the radial direction of the disk, and a couplingmechanism for coupling the pickup base and the pickup moving mechanism.The coupling mechanism is configured in such a manner as to allow amovement of the pickup moving mechanism even after the pickup base hasbeen guided to a guide end near a center of the disk, and in such amanner that this movement causes a switching of the supplyingdestination of the driving power of the motor from the pickup movingmechanism to the clamp mechanism (hereinafter, referred to as a secondconfiguration, in this section).

With the above-described configuration, a trigger operation fortransition to an ejecting state can be performed after the opticalpickup is surely placed at an information recording area on an innermostarea of the disk.

In the second configuration, preferably, the disk player is configuredin such a manner as to be adaptable to both a first disk having a largediameter and a second disk having a small diameter. The disk loadingport includes disk transfer receiving portions on both sides, the seconddisk is configured in such a manner as to lose contact with the disktransfer receiving portions at an earlier stage of insertion than thefirst disk, and a transfer stopper for the second disk is provided at aposition which comes into contact with only the second disk.

In the second configuration, preferably, the disk player is configuredto be adaptable to both a first disk having a large diameter and asecond disk having a small diameter and comprises a moving member havinga first contact portion which contacts a tip end of the first diskhaving a larger diameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller anda second contact portion which contacts a tip end of the first diskhaving a small diameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller. Amovement of the moving member, as a result of the disk contacting thecontact portions, causes a switching of the supplying destination of thedriving power of the motor from the transfer mechanism to the clampmechanism.

In the second configuration, preferably, the disk player is configuredsuch that a reproducing portion is formed by being provided with theclamper, the clamp mechanism, the transfer mechanism, the optical pickupbase, the pickup moving mechanism, and the roller supporting mechanismin the same cabinet, and configured to be adaptable to both a first diskhaving a large diameter and a second disk having a small diameter,comprises a lock mechanism for fixedly or elastically supporting thereproducing portion, a slider which engages with the lock mechanism andthe roller supporting mechanism, and a moving member including a firstcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having alarger diameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller and a secondcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having asmall diameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller, andconfigured such that the movement of the moving member caused as aresult of the disk contacting the contact portion causes the slider tomove, and this movement of the slider causes the roller supportingmechanism to move, thereby pulling the transfer roller away from thedisk, and causes the lock mechanism to move, thereby changing thereproducing portion from a fixed state to an elastically-supportedstate.

In the second configuration, preferably, the disk player comprises aswitching mechanism for switching the supplying destination of thedriving power of the motor either to the clamp mechanism or to thepickup moving mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured in such amanner as to restrict a movement of the pickup moving mechanism whenapplying the driving power of the motor to the clamp mechanism and allowthe movement of the pickup moving mechanism when applying the drivingpower of the motor to the pickup moving mechanism.

In the second configuration, preferably, the damper is provided in sucha manner as to be lifted or descended by the clamp mechanism with arear-end portion thereof serving as a supporting point, and the rear-endportion is configured in such a manner as to engage with engaging holeswhich allow upward and downward movements of the rear-end portion.

In the second configuration, preferably, there is provided an adjustingmechanism for adjusting an attitude of an optical pickup base and thecoupling mechanism is configured in such a manner as to allow a changeof the attitude of the optical pickup base without changing the attitudeof the pickup moving mechanism.

In the second configuration, preferably, the disk player is configuredin such a manner as to fix the pickup moving mechanism when thesupplying destination of the driving power of the motor is switched fromthe pickup moving mechanism to the clamp mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a disk player according to an embodimentof the present invention (a driving mechanism is omitted);

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view;

FIG. 1(b) is a front view;

FIG. 1(c) is a right side view;

FIG. 2(a) is a side view illustrating a playing state;

FIG. 2(b) is a side view illustrating a transition state (state slightlybefore ejecting);

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a disk player according to an embodimentof the present invention (a driving mechanism is illustrated);

FIG. 3(a) is a plan view;

FIG. 3(b) is a left side view;

FIG. 3(c) is a right side view;

FIG. 3(c) is a descriptive diagram of the right side surface;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a disk player according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a disk player according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a disk player according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a disk player according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a disk player according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a descriptive diagram illustrating a state where a disk isbeing inserted;

FIG. 9(b) is a descriptive diagram illustrating a preventing state whena telephone card is inserted;

FIG. 10(a) is a descriptive diagram corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 10(b) is a descriptive diagram corresponding to FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a clamper, etc.;

FIG. 12 is a descriptive diagram illustrating a rotating operation of aclamper;

FIG. 12(a) is a view illustrating an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12(b) is a reference view for comparison; and

FIG. 13(a) is a perspective view simply illustrating a coupling portionof an optical pickup base, and as illustrated in the FIG. 13(b), is apartial cross sectional view illustrating an engagement between auniversal joint and a convex rail on the rack mechanism.

BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedbased on FIGS. 1 to 13.

(General Outline of Disk Player)

FIG. 1 illustrates a disk player (chassis portion), whereinrepresentation of various types of driving mechanisms is omitted. FIG.1(a) is a plan view, FIG. 1(b) is a front view and FIG. 1(c) is a rightside view. A disk player main body 1 (a main body chassis 11 isillustrated in FIG. 1) is provided within a chassis base 1101. The mainbody chassis 11 is elastically supported by coil spring dampers 102(which are placed at three positions) provided on a lower-surface sideof the main-body chassis 11, within the chassis base 101. A disk loadingslit 20 is formed in a front surface of the chassis base 101. The diskloading slit 20 is provided with a right disk guide 2R and a left diskguide 2L formed from resin, and the disk loading slit 20 has a shapesimilar to a T-shape. The distance between the right end of the uppersurface of the right disk guide 2R and the left end of the upper surfaceof the left disk guide 2L corresponds to a 12-cm disk. The distancebetween the inner wall surface of the right disk guide 2R and the innerwall surface of the left disk guide 2L is made slightly smaller than thediameter of an 8-cm disk.

There are differences between an operation at a time of inserting a12-cm disk and an operation at a time of inserting an 8-cm disk. Thiswill be described later.

Herein, this disk player has a disk-rotatable state (playing state), adisk-loading/unloading state (ejecting state), and a transition statebetween the ejecting state and the playing state. Hereinafter, generaloutlines regarding a disk transfer in the respective states will bedescribed based on FIGS. 2 and 3, and general outlines regarding atransfer of a driving power of a motor 12 in the respective states willbe described based on FIGS. 3 to 8.

(1) Playing State (Relating to Transfer of Disk)

As illustrated in FIG. 2(a), a damper 3 is in a descending state andthus a disk not shown is brought into a clamped state. The damper 3swings with supporting point portions 3 a, 3 a formed at a rear sidethereof serving as the supporting points, thus forming a lifting stateand a descending state. A flange portion 3 b of the damper 3 has adisk-shape and is rotatably provided. At a position facing the flangeportion 3 b, a disk receiving portion 4 is placed. The disk receivingportion 4 is rotated by a motor not shown. A disk loaded in the diskplayer main body 1 is clamped at its center by the flange portion 3 band the disk receiving portion 4 and is rotated by a rotation of thedisk receiving portion 4.

A transfer roller 5 for loading or unloading a disk into the disk playermain body 1 is provided in the vicinity of the disk loading slit 20 (seeFIG. 3). In the playing state, the transfer roller 5 has completed atransfer of the disk and is separated from the disk by a retractingoperation through a roller driving mechanism 50.

The roller driving mechanism 50 is configured to include a mountingplate 51, torsion springs 52R, 52L, a first roller-use gear 53, a secondroller-use gear 54, and a third roller-use gear 55, and these gears areprovided on a left side surface of the disk player main body 1. Thethird roller-use gear 55 is provided rotatably about a shaft secured toa left side surface of the main body chassis 11. A transfer gear 56 (seeFIG. 3) transmits a driving power to the third roller-use gear 55.

The second roller-use gear 54 meshes with the third roller-use gear 55,and engages with a shaft of the third roller-use gear 55 with a linklever 57. The second roller-use gear 54 becomes capable of rotating, andthe shaft thereof becomes capable of moving therewith. Further, thefirst roller-use gear 53 meshes with the second roller-use gear 54, andengages with a shaft of the second roller-use gear 54 with a link lever58. The first roller-use gear 53 becomes capable of rotating, and theshaft thereof becomes capable of moving therewith.

A shaft of the first roller-use gear 53 is provided on the mountingplate 51. The mounting plate 51 is provided rotatably about a supportingshaft of the torsion spring 52L. Further, the aforementioned transferroller 5 is coupled to the shaft of the first roller-use gear 53.Therefore, a rotation of the mounting plate 51 changes a position of thetransfer roller 5, thereby providing a disk-transferring state and astate retracted from the disk.

Sliders 6L, 6R are provided on both side surfaces of the main bodychassis 11. FIG. 3(d) illustrates the slider 6L in an enlarged form (itis noted that FIG. 3(d) illustrates the ejecting state). The slider 6Lis formed of a main body portion placed on a side surface of the mainbody chassis 11 and a drive auxiliary portion 600 placed an uppersurface of the main body chassis 11. A relation between the main bodyportion and the drive auxiliary portion 600 will be described in“General Outline of Driving Power Transfer of Motor 12”.

In the playing state, the sliders 6L, 6R are placed on the nearest side.Each of the sliders 6L, 6R is formed with an incline-shaped(step-shaped) first guide slot 61. The shaft of the first roller-usegear 53 engages with the first guide slot 61. In a state that thesliders 6L, 6R are placed on the nearest side, as illustrated in FIG.2(a), the shaft of the first roller-use gear 53 is made to be engagedwith a lower side (rear side) of the first guide slot 61 and themounting plate 51 rotates against a bias of the torsion springs 52L,52R, resulting in a state that the transfer roller 5 is descended, andretracted from the disk.

Each of the sliders 6L, 6R is formed with an incline-shaped(step-shaped) second guide slot 62. A guide protrusion 13 a on each oflock levers 13L, 13R engages with the second guide slot 62. The locklevers 13L, 13R are provided rotatably about a shaft 13 b. In a statethat the sliders 6L, 6R are placed on the nearest side, the guideprotrusion 13 a is made to be engaged with a lower side (rear side) ofthe second guide slot 62 and an upper end portion 13 c of each locklever 13L, 13R separates from an engaging hole (not shown) in the uppersurface of the chassis base 101. Therefore, in the playing state, anelastically-supported state of the main body chassis 11 by theabove-described coil spring dampers 102 is provided.

A pushing protrusion 64 is formed on the slider 6L. In the playingstate, the pushing protrusion 64 separates from an engaging piece 3 c onthe damper 3, thereby causing the damper 3 to descend.

(2) Transition State (Relating to Transfer of Disk)

FIG. 2(b) illustrates a state immediately before an end of transition(state slightly before completion of ejection). In this transitionstate, the sliders 6L, 6R are placed on a far side. In this FIG. 2(b),the shaft of the first roller-use gear 53 engages with a front portionon a near side of the first guide slot 61 and the mounting plate 51rotates by receiving the bias by the torsion springs 52L, 52R, causingthe transfer roller 5 to move upwardly. Further, in this state, theguide protrusion 13 a engages with an upper-step portion of the secondguide slot 62 and the upper end portion 13 c of the lock lever 13L, 13Rengages with the engaging hole in the upper surface of the chassis base101, thereby releasing an elastic supporting state of the main bodychassis 11 by the coil spring dampers 102 (the main body chassis 11 isplaced and secured to the chassis base 101). Further, in this state, thepushing protrusion 64 contacts the engaging piece 3 c on the damper 3,causing the damper 3 to lift.

(3) Ejecting State (Relating to Transfer of Disk)

In the ejecting state, the sliders 6L, 6R are placed on the farthestside. In this state, the shaft of the first roller-use gear 53 engageswith the nearest side of the first guide slot 61 and thus the transferroller 5 moves to the uppermost position, thereby resulting in adisk-transferable state. The near-side portion of the first guide slot61 is made larger in some degree in a height direction, thereby allowinga movement of the shaft of the first roller-use gear 53 (movement of thetransfer roller 5). That is, when a disk is inserted, the transferroller 5 can be descended to some degree when pushed by the disk.Further, in this ejecting state, a placed-and-secured state of the mainbody chassis 11 is maintained and a state of lifting the damper 3 ismaintained.

(4) Ejecting State (Relating to Transfer of Driving Power of Motor 12)

FIG. 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) and FIG. 4 illustrate the ejecting state.In this state, a disk can be loaded into the player main body 1. When asensor 14 detects a disk having been inserted into the disk loading slit20, an electric power is supplied to the motor 12, causing the motor 12to rotate. The driving power is transmitted to a first gear 72 through aworm gear 70 provided on a shaft of the motor 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 10(a), too, a second gear 73 meshes with a smallgear portion of the first gear 72. The second gear 73 is provided on arotation plate 71. The rotation plate 71 rotates about a shaft of thefirst gear 72. The second gear 73 meshes with a large gear portion of athird gear 74. A small gear portion of the third gear 74 meshes with alarge gear portion of a fourth gear 75. A small gear portion of thefourth gear 75 is provided such that it meshes with a rack portion 600 aformed on a drive auxiliary portion 600. Further, the large gear portionof the third gear 74 meshes with a gear 76 b in a roller gear separatingmechanism 76. The gear 76 b meshes with a gear 76 c. The gear 76 c isprovided such that it meshes with a transfer gear 56. The gear 76 b isprovided on a movable plate 76 a. The movable plate 76 a rotates about ashaft of the gear 76 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(a), a disk sensing lever 15 is provided on anupper-surface side of the disk player main body 1. The disk sensinglever 15 rotates about a shaft 15 a. When a disk is further pushedtherein, in the case of an 8-cm disk, the disk contacts a protrusion 15b, causing the disk sensing lever 15 to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection, and in the case of a 12-cm disk, it contacts a protrusion 15c, causing the disk sensing lever 15 to rotate in the counterclockwisedirection. This rotation causes a operation protrusion 15 d to push ancontact portion 600 b on the drive auxiliary portion 600.

The drive auxiliary portion 600 is provided such that it can move by apredetermined distance in a sliding direction with respect to the slider6L, against a spring not shown. Therefore, when the operation protrusion15 d pushes the contact portion 600 b on the drive auxiliary portion600, only the drive auxiliary portion 600 moves against theaforementioned spring with a small force, and the rack portion 600 ameshes with the small gear portion of the fourth gear 75. When the driveauxiliary portion 600 is further moved by the driving power of thefourth gear 75, a part of the drive auxiliary portion 600 contacts apart of the slider 6L, which causes the slider 6L to slide.

A guide slot 600 c is formed in the drive auxiliary portion 600. In theejecting state, a first protrusion 76 d formed on the movable plate 76 ais placed at an inlet port of the guide slot 600 c. Further, in thisejecting state, a second protrusion 76 e formed on the movable plate 76a is engaged with a protrusion 71 a formed on the rotation plate 71 (seeFIG. 10(a)).

(5) Transition State (Relating to Transfer of Driving Power of Motor 12)

As a result of the drive auxiliary portion 600 moving, the firstprotrusion 76 d is guided into the guide slot 600 c as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. This rotates the movable plate 76 a in thecounterclockwise direction, causing the gear 76 c to be separated fromthe transfer gear 56 (separation of the roller gear). Further, as aresult of the movable plate 76 a rotating in the counterclockwisedirection, an engagement state between the second protrusion 76 e andthe protrusion 71 a is released.

(6) Playing State (Relating to Transfer of Driving Power of Motor 12)

The rotation plate 71 released from the engagement state rotates byitself in the clockwise direction due to an inertia by the rotation ofthe gear 72, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Then, as a result of the gear 73meshing with a dummy gear (by a single tooth of the gear), the rotationplate 71 further rotates, and the gear 73 meshes with a rack-drivinggear 18.

A lock lever 17 is provided rotatably about a shaft 17 b and is biasedin the counterclockwise direction by a torsion spring 17 c. A first lockprotrusion 17 a is provided at a left-side position on the lock lever 17(the side which descends in the counterclockwise direction). This firstlock protrusion 17 a is in contact with the peripheral surface of therotation plate 71 and since the rotation plate 71 has rotated in theclockwise direction, the lock protrusion 17 a engages with a concaveportion 71 b formed on the aforementioned peripheral surface asillustrated in FIG. 10(b). Thus, in the playing state, a state that thedriving power of the motor 12 is transmitted to the rack driving gear 18is maintained. Further, a second lock protrusion 17 d is provided at aright-side position (the side which rises in the counterclockwisedirection) on the lock lever 17. This second lock protrusion 17 dseparates from a concave portion 30 a on a rack mechanism 30. Thisallows the rack mechanism 30 to operate in the playing state.

The rack mechanism 30 is coupled to an optical pickup base 32 via auniversal joint 31. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the optical pickup base 32slides by being guided by two shafts 33A,33B. The two shafts 33A, 33Bare supported on the main body chassis 11 via mounting bases 34A, 34B,34C, and 34D. Further, one end of the shaft 33A (near the center of themain body chassis) is coupled to a height adjusting mechanism 35C andthe both ends of the shaft 33B are coupled to height adjustingmechanisms 35A, 35B. By adjusting the height adjusting mechanisms 35A,35B, and 35C, an attitude of the optical pickup base 32 can be adjusted.Since the optical pickup base 32 and the rack mechanism 30 are coupledto each other via the universal joint 31, the attitude of the rackmechanism 30 will not be changed even when the attitude of the opticalpickup base 32 changes.

When a transition from the aforementioned playing state to the ejectingstate is made, the gear 72 rotates in the counterclockwise directionthus causing the rack driving gear 18, too, to rotate in thecounterclockwise direction, and the rack mechanism 30 causes the opticalpickup base 32 to move to a center position. This, as illustrated inFIG. 8, allows a contact portion 30 b on the rack mechanism 30 todepress a concave portion 17 e on the lock lever 17. Therefore, the locklever 17 rotates in the clockwise direction and the second lockprotrusion 17 d engages with the depression 30 a in the rack mechanism30. This, when the transition to the ejecting state is made, brings therack mechanism 30 in a fixed state. Further, since the lock lever 17rotates in the clockwise direction, the first lock protrusion 17 aseparates from the concave portion 71 b. Since the gear 72 is beingrotated in the counterclckwise direction, the rotation plate 71 rotatesin the counterclockwise direction due to the inertia of the rotation ofthe gear 72, and the gear 73 meshes with the third gear 74 (see FIG. 4).

(Detailed Description of Main Parts)

(7) Relating to Insertion of Disk

As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), the disk loading slit 20 is provided withthe right disk guide 2R and the left disk guide 2L, and has a shapesimilar to a T-shape. When a 12-cm disk D1 is inserted, as illustratedin FIG. 9, this disk D1 is guided onto the upper surfaces of the diskguides 2R, 2L and transferred into the player main body 1 while beingmaintained substantially in a horizontal attitude. It is noted that thetransfer roller 15 descends to some degree by being pushed by the 12-cmdisk D1 (this is the same in a case of an 8-cm disk D2), and transfersthe disk D1 while keeping in contact with the disk D1. On the otherhand, the 8-cm disk D2 can be placed on the upper surfaces of the diskguides 2R, 2L in a portion in the vicinity of the diameter of the disk,and when the portion in the vicinity of the diameter of the disk entersthe player main body, the 8-cm disk D2 is not supported by the diskguides 2R, 2L, allowing the rear end thereof to descend, and thus thetip end thereof becomes oriented upwardly.

On a lower surface of the upper plate of the chassis base 101,protrusions 101 b, 101 b are formed (see FIG. 1(a)). Further, on a lowersurface of the clamper 3, protrusions 3 d, 3 d are formed as illustratedin FIG. 9(a). A tip end side of the 8-cm disk D2 proceeding while beingoriented upwardly contacts the protrusions 3 d, 3 d (or the protrusions101 b, 101 b) and the disk D2 stops in a state that the center portionthereof is placed on the disk receiving portion 4. It is noted that anyone of the protrusions 101 b, 101 b or the protrusions 3 d, 3 d may beformed.

A restriction plate 21 is provided on a lower surface of a near side ofthe upper plate of the chassis base 101. The disk D1 and the disk D2 areboth inserted while keeping in contact with a contact guide portion P1of the restriction plate 21. Further, a stopper portion P2 is formed ona farther-side portion than the contact guide portion P1 and a portionbetween the contact guide portion P1 and the stopper portion P2 has aconcave shape. The transfer roller 5 is placed in this concave-shapedportion. A peripheral surface of the transfer roller 5 is placed in amoving direction of the disks D1, D2 proceeding while contacting theupper surfaces of the disk guides 2R, 2L of the disk loading slit 20 andthe contact guide portion P1. The stopper portion P2 exists at aposition corresponding to a direction of a tangent line which passesthrough the contact guide portion P1, out of the tangent lines of theperipheral surface, at positions other than the moving direction of thedisks D1, D2.

At an initial stage of an insertion of the disks D1, D2, the disks D1,D2 proceed while keeping in contact with the contact guide portion P1and the upper surfaces of the disk guides 2R, 2L and, in middle of theinsertion, the disks D1, D2 contact the peripheral surface of thetransfer roller 5, causing the transfer roller 5 to descend downwardlywhile being transferred by the transfer roller 5. Since the stopperportion P2 does not exist in the moving direction of the disks D1, D2,the transfer of the disks D1, D2 will not be obstructed. It is notedthat after the disk D2 passes at a position in the vicinity of thestopper portion P2, the rear end of the disk D2 is allowed to descend,and therefore the disk D2 proceeds while being oriented upwardly.

Even if an attempt is made to insert a telephone card, etc., into thedisk loading slit 20 out of mischief, this card can be prevented frombeing inserted into the plate main body 1. Telephone cards, etc., areformed to be relatively thin and thus are soft and easily bent comparedwith disks. Therefore, an inserted telephone card can not push down thetransfer roller 15. Since the transfer roller 15 is not pushed down, thecard will proceed toward the stopper portion P2 and contact the stopperportion P2, which stops the transfer.

As described above, the present invention is effective in that thestopper portion does not exist in the moving direction of the disk beinginserted, and therefore, the transfer of the disk will not be obstructedand. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to insert a telephonecard, etc., into the disk loading port out of mischief, this card cannot push down the disk transfer roller downwardly, and therefore, thecard will contact the stopper portion, thereby stopping the transfer.

(8) Relating to Clamper

FIG. 11 is a perspective view simply illustrating a supporting mechanismfor the clamper 3. Rectangular holes 11 c, 11 c are formed in arear-wall portion of the main body chassis 1, and the supporting pointportions 3 a, 3 a of the damper 3 engage with these rectangular holes 11c, 11 c. The supporting point portions 3 a, 3 a are allowed to moveupwardly and downwardly while rightward and leftward movements arerestricted in the rectangular holes 11 c, 11 c. Further, at right-handand left-hand positions on a far side in the main body chassis 11,erected portions 11 a, 11 a are formed. At an upper end portion of eacherected portion 11 a, a vertical cutout is formed and each of the sideconvex portions 3 e, 3 e of the damper 3 engages with the verticalcutout. The side convex portions 3 e, 3 e are allowed to move upwardlyand downwardly while restricted to move frontwardly and rearwardly inthe vertical cutouts.

As described above, in the ejecting state, the slider 6L is placed onthe farthest side. In this state, the pushing protrusion 64 abutsagainst the engage piece 3 c of the damper 3, causing the damper 3 tolift. At this time, a tip end (near the flange portion 3 b) of theclamper 3 is pushed against an upper plate of the chassis base 101 to bepositioned and when this pushing force is large, the damper 3 may becaused to be bent. Further, if a lifting operation of the damper 3 isrepeatedly performed many times, fatigue may occur to a metalconstituting the damper 3.

As illustrated in a view in FIG. 12(b) for comparison and reference,when a height of a rectangular hole 11 c′ is equivalent to a thicknessof the supporting point portion 3 a, the uppermost position of thedamper 3 at a time of being lifted is determined by a positionalrelation between the supporting point portion 3 a of the damper 3 andthe pushing protrusion 64. When there is an error in the positionalrelation between the aforementioned uppermost position and the chassisbase 101, the damper 3 may be caused to be bent as described above. Inthis embodiment, the height of the rectangular hole 11 c is made higherthan the thickness of the supporting point portion 3 a, thus allowingthe supporting points 3 a, 3 a to move upwardly and downwardly in therectangular hole 11 c. Therefore, when the damper 3 is lifted to abutagainst the upper plate of the chassis base 101, the supporting pointportions 3 a, 3 a are allowed to float in the rectangular holes 11 c, asillustrated in FIG. 12(a). As a result of such floating being allowed,the pushing force at a time that the tip end of the damper 3 abutsagainst the upper plate of the chassis base 101 becomes small, therebypreventing the damper 3 from being bent. That is, the tip-end side ofthe damper 3 is abutted against the upper plate of the chassis base 101to achieve a positioning while the damper 3 is prevented from being bentby the abutment.

(9) Relating to Drive of Optical Pickup Base

FIG. 13 is a perspective view simply illustrating the coupling portionof the optical pickup base. As described above, the rack mechanism 30 iscoupled to the optical pickup base 32 via the universal joint 31. Theuniversal joint 31 is provided in such a manner as to extend across therack mechanism 30 to the optical pickup base 32. As illustrated in FIG.13(b), the universal joint 31 is provided in such a manner as to engagewith a convex rail 301 of the rack mechanism 30 on one end (on the rackmechanism 30 side), and as to be slidable in a G direction and an Hdirection. The other end of the universal joint 31 (on the opticalpickup base 32 side) is depressed (biased downwardly) against theoptical pickup base 32 by a flat spring 32 b and, when the universaljoint 31 is moved, the optical pickup base 32 moves. The flat spring 32b is secured to the optical pickup base 32 by a screw, etc. With thisconfiguration, even when an attitude of the optical pickup base 32 isadjusted, a change of a position will be absorbed by the universal joint31 and the attitude of the rack mechanism 30 will not be changed.

A torsion spring 36 contacts, at its one end, a side surface of theuniversal joint 31 which faces in the G direction and contacts, at theother end, a side surface of the rack mechanism 30 which faces in the Hdirection. When the rack mechanism 30 moves in the G direction, theuniversal joint 31 is brought into contact with an end portion of theconvex rail 301 and is moved by being pushed by the rack mechanism 30.Further, when the rack mechanism 30 moves in the H direction, a force ofa movement of the rack mechanism 30 is applied to the universal joint 31via the torsion spring 36. The torsion spring 36 has a sufficientlylarge elasticity and can transmit the movement of the rack mechanism 30to the universal joint 31 without being largely bent.

FIG. 13 illustrates the rack mechanism 30 moves most largely in the Hdirection (that is, the ejecting state). In this state, as illustratedin FIG. 8, the contact portion 30 b on the rack mechanism 30 pushes theconvex portion 17 e of the lock lever 17 (a trigger operation for thetransition to the ejecting state), and thus the lock lever 17 rotates inthe clockwise direction, causing the second lock protrusion 17 d toengage with the concave portion 30 a in the rack mechanism 30, whichbrings the rack mechanism 30 into the locked state. That is, even whenthe optical pickup base 32 is placed at a guide end near a center of theplayer main body 1, the rack mechanism 30 slightly moves in the Hdirection, causing the trigger operation to be carried out so as totransfer to the ejecting state (in this state, the torsion spring 36 isfurther contracted). Therefore, a lock operation of the rack mechanism30 is performed after the optical pickup base 32 surely moves to thecenter of the player main body 1 (after the optical pickup is placed atthe information recording area on the disk innermost area), which cansurely prevent a situation where the optical pickup can not reach theinformation recording area on the disk innermost area.

Further, the lock lever 17 is provided such that when the optical pickupbase 32 moves to the disk center, the operation for fixing the rackmechanism 30 by the trigger operation using this movement and theoperation for switching the supplying destination of the driving powerfrom the rack mechanism 30 to the disk-transfer mechanism areconcurrently performed. Therefore, after the disk is clamped, the statethat the optical pickup is fixed can be released with the same timing asswitching of the supplying destination of the driving power transfer formoving the optical pickup.

Further, since the step-shaped slots 61, 62 are provided in the sliders6L, 6R and the transfer roller 5 is moved along the slot 61 to beretracted from the disk through movement of the sliders 6L, 6R and thelock levers 13L, 13R are rotated along the slot 62, the transfer roller5 can be retracted and the main body chassis 11 can be elasticallysupported with a simple configuration.

1. A disk player, comprising: a contact guide portion which comes intocontact with a disk inserted from a disk loading port; a stopper portionwhich is placed on a farther side than said contact guide portion; atransfer roller that is provided between said contact guide portion andsaid stopper portion, and transfers the disk; a transfer mechanism fortransmitting a driving power of a motor to said transfer roller; adamper for clamping said disk transferred thereto; a clamp mechanism forcausing the damper to lift or descend; an optical pickup base which isguided in a linear manner in a radial direction of the disk clamped bysaid clamper; and a pickup moving mechanism for moving said pickup basein the radial direction of said disk, wherein a peripheral surface ofsaid transfer roller is placed in a moving direction of the diskproceeding while keeping in contact with said disk loading port and saidcontact guide portion, said transfer roller is provided in such a manneras to move a little by being pushed by the disk, said disk proceedswithout contacting said stopper portion, and on the other hand, a memberto be bent easier than said disk is not capable of moving said transferroller, said member proceeds toward said stopper portion and contactsthe stopper portion, thus transferring is prevented.
 2. A disk playeraccording to claim 1, configured to be adaptable to both a first diskhaving a large diameter and a second disk having a small diameter,wherein said disk loading port includes disk transfer receiving portionson both sides, the second disk is configured in such a manner as to losecontact with said disk transfer receiving portions at an earlier stageof insertion than the first disk, and a transfer stopper for the seconddisk is provided at a position which comes into contact with only thesecond disk.
 3. A disk player according to claim 1, configured to beadaptable to both a first disk having a large diameter and a second diskhaving a small diameter and comprising a moving member having a firstcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having alarger diameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller and a secondcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having asmall diameter transferred thereto by the transfer roller, wherein themovement of the moving member as a result of the disk contacting saidcontact portion causes a switching of a supplying destination of thedriving power of the motor from the transfer mechanism to the clampmechanism.
 4. A disk player according to claim 1, configured such that areproducing portion is formed by being provided with said clamper, saidclamp mechanism, said transfer mechanism, said optical pickup base, saidpickup moving mechanism, and a roller supporting mechanism for movablysupporting said transfer roller in the same cabinet, and configured tobe adaptable to both a first disk having a large diameter and a seconddisk having a small diameter, comprising a lock mechanism for fixedly orelastically supporting said reproducing portion, a slider which engageswith said lock mechanism and said roller supporting mechanism, and amoving member including a first contact portion which contacts a tip endof the first disk having a larger diameter transferred thereto by saidtransfer roller and a second contact portion which contacts a tip end ofthe first disk having a small diameter transferred thereto by saidtransfer roller, and configured such that a movement of said movingmember caused as a result of the disk contacting said contact portioncauses said slider to move, and this movement of said slider causes saidroller supporting mechanism to move, thereby pulling said transferroller away from the disk, and causes a lock mechanism to move, therebychanging said reproducing portion from a fixed state to anelastically-supported state.
 5. A disk player according to claim 1,comprising a switching mechanism for switching of the supplyingdestination of the driving power of said motor either to said clampmechanism or to said pickup moving mechanism, wherein said switchingmechanism is configured in such a manner as to restrict a movement ofsaid pickup moving mechanism when applying the driving power of saidmotor to said clamp mechanism, and allow the movement of the pickupmoving mechanism when applying the driving power of the motor to thepickup moving mechanism.
 6. A disk player according to claim 1, whereinthe damper is provided in such a manner as to be lifted or descended bysaid clamp mechanism with a rear-end portion thereof serving as asupporting point, and said rear-end portion is configured in such amanner as to engage with engaging holes which allow upward and downwardmovements of said rear-end portion.
 7. A disk player according to claim1, comprising a coupling mechanism for coupling said pickup base andsaid pickup moving mechanism, wherein said coupling mechanism isconfigured in such a manner as to allow a movement of said pickup movingmechanism even after said pickup base has been guided to a guide endnear a center of the disk, and in such a manner that this movementcauses a switching of the supplying destination of the driving power ofsaid motor from said pickup moving mechanism to said clamp mechanism. 8.A disk player according to claim 7, wherein there is provided anadjusting mechanism for adjusting an attitude of said optical pickupbase and said coupling mechanism is configured in such a manner as toallow a change of the attitude of the optical pickup base withoutchanging the attitude of said pickup moving mechanism.
 9. A disk playeraccording to claim 7, configured in such a manner as to fix said pickupmoving mechanism when the supplying destination of the driving power ofsaid motor is switched from said pickup moving mechanism to said clampmechanism.
 10. A disk player, comprising: a disk loading port; atransfer roller that transfers a disk; a roller supporting mechanism formovably supporting said transfer roller; a transfer mechanism fortransmitting a driving power of a motor to said transfer roller; adamper for clamping said disk transferred thereto; a clamp mechanism forcausing the damper to lift or descend; an optical pickup base which isguided in a linear manner in a radial direction of said disk clamped bysaid clamper; a pickup moving mechanism for moving said pickup base inthe radial direction of said disk; and a coupling mechanism for couplingsaid pickup base and said pickup moving mechanism, wherein said couplingmechanism is configured in such a manner as to allow a movement of saidpickup moving mechanism even after said pickup base has been guided to aguide end near a center of the disk, and in such a manner that thismovement causes a switching of the supplying destination of the drivingpower of said motor from the pickup moving mechanism to said clampmechanism.
 11. A disk player according to claim 10, configured in such amanner as to be adaptable to both a first disk having a large diameterand a second disk having a small diameter, wherein said disk loadingport includes disk transfer receiving portions on both sides, the seconddisk is configured in such a manner as to lose contact with said disktransfer receiving portions at an earlier stage of insertion than thefirst disk, and a transfer stopper for the second disk is provided at aposition which comes into contact with only said second disk.
 12. A diskplayer according to claim 10, configured in such a manner as to beadaptable to both a first disk having a large diameter and a second diskhaving a small diameter and comprising a moving member having a firstcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having alarger diameter transferred thereto by said transfer roller and a secondcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having asmall diameter transferred thereto by said transfer roller, wherein amovement of said moving member as a result of the disk contacting saidcontact portion causes a switching of the supplying destination of thedriving power of said motor from said transfer mechanism to said clampmechanism.
 13. A disk player according to claim 10, configured such thata reproducing portion is formed by being provided with said clamper,said clamp mechanism, said transfer mechanism, said optical pickup base,said pickup moving mechanism, and said roller supporting mechanism inthe same cabinet, and configured to be adaptable to both a first diskhaving a large diameter and a second disk having a small diameter,comprising a lock mechanism for fixedly or elastically supporting thereproducing portion, a slider which engages with said lock mechanism andsaid roller supporting mechanism, and a moving member including a firstcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having alarger diameter transferred thereto by said transfer roller and a secondcontact portion which contacts a tip end of the first disk having asmall diameter transferred thereto by said transfer roller, andconfigured such that a movement of said moving member caused as a resultof the disk contacting said contact portion causes said slider to move,and this movement of said slider causes said roller supporting mechanismto move, thereby pulling said transfer roller away from the disk, andcauses a lock mechanism to move, thereby changing said reproducingportion from a fixed state to an elastically-supported state.
 14. A diskplayer according to claim 10, comprising a switching mechanism forswitching the supplying destination of the driving power of the motoreither to said clamp mechanism or to said pickup moving mechanism,wherein said switching mechanism is configured in such a manner as torestrict a movement of said pickup moving mechanism when applying thedriving power of said motor to said clamp mechanism and allow themovement of said pickup moving mechanism when applying the driving powerof said motor to said pickup moving mechanism.
 15. A disk playeraccording to claim 10, wherein said damper is provided in such a manneras to be lifted or descended by said clamp mechanism with a rear-endportion thereof serving as a supporting point, and said rear-end portionis configured in such a manner as to engage with engaging holes whichallow upward and downward movements of said rear-end portion.
 16. A diskplayer according to claim 10, wherein there is provided an adjustingmechanism for adjusting an attitude of said optical pickup base and saidcoupling mechanism is configured in such a manner as to allow a changeof the attitude of the optical pickup base without changing the attitudeof said pickup moving mechanism.
 17. A disk player according to claim10, configured in such a manner as to fix said pickup moving mechanismwhen the supplying destination of the driving power of said motor isswitched from said pickup moving mechanism to said clamp mechanism.